DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Nearly a week after Israel pledged to increase aid to Gaza by reopening a border crossing and accepting aid shipments at an Israeli port, neither the crossing nor the port has been put to the promised use, and there is no apparent sign of preparations to use them. Facing international condemnation after an Israeli airstrike killed seven workers for an international aid group, Israel said it would reopen the Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza for aid delivery. But satellite imagery taken on Tuesday shows that the road leading to Erez on the Gaza side remains blocked by rubble from a destroyed building, a crater and other damage. The damage was also seen in satellite imagery last month and again last Friday. Before Israel closed it at the start of the war, the crossing was used by pedestrians, not supply trucks.

Persons: Israel, Erez Locations: Gaza, Israel, Erez

☆ Want to see the next total solar eclipse in 2026? An expert recommends booking travel now.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementIt'll be two decades before the next total solar eclipse hits the US. Another option: hop on a plane to Europe and turn the 2026 total solar eclipse into a viewing vacation. Advertisement"I would say the total solar eclipse has become a global phenomenon," Ballard said. Video Media Studio Europe/ShutterstockDetermine your eclipse viewing destinationAccording to Space.com, 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Other operators, such as Wilderness Travel and Eclipse Traveler, have similar itineraries for the total eclipse in 2026.

Persons: —, Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com, Space.com, Philip Ballard, Vox, Ballard, Taylor Organizations: Travelers, Service, Video Media, Northern, Eclipse Locations: Spain, Iceland, Greenland, Europe, Austin , Texas, Rochester , New York, Mallorca, Expedia

A photo taken by Abdallah Dalee in the early hours of February 29 shows a crowd of people waiting by firelight for the aid trucks to cross into northern Gaza. Mark Regev, the Israeli prime minister’s special adviser, initially told CNN that Israeli forces had not been involved. “Most of the people that were killed were rammed by the aid trucks during the chaos and while trying to escape the Israeli gunfire,” Al Za’anoun said. The footage shows hundreds of people gathering around aid trucks on Al Rashid Street. People mourn outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City over one of the Palestinians killed during the aid delivery on February 29.

Persons: Abu Watfa, ” Abu Watfa, ’, ”, Al Rashid, Abdallah Dalee, firelight, Abdallah Dalee Gazan, Mark Regev, Daniel Hagari, Al Za’anoun, ” Al Za’anoun, Rashid, Belal, Robert Maher, Richard Weir, Weir, Al Jazeera, “, Abd Rabu, Hamouda Zamil, Dr, Amjad Aliwa, Georgios Petropoulos, ” Mohammed Ahmed, I’ve, ” Ahmed, Ahmed Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces ’, IDF, Montana State University, Human Rights Watch, Al, AFP, Getty, Welfare Trust, Welfare, Ummah Welfare, UN Office, Human Rights Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Israel, Al, United States, Bolton, England, “, Al Nabulsi, Al Kuwaiti

☆ Middle East Crisis C.I.A. Director Is Heading to Cease-Fire Talks as Pressure Grows on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

During the call, Mr. Biden threatened to condition future support for Israel on how it addresses his concerns about civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Israeli statement did not give a timing for when the crossing would be reopened. Mr. Biden has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s approach to the war against Hamas in Gaza, saying that more must be done to protect civilians. Image Palestinians gathering to receive food in the town of Jabaliya in northern Gaza last month. Israel has rejected accusations that it is responsible for delays in the delivery of aid.

Persons: Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jordan — “, Erez, Adrienne Watson, “, ”, Netanyahu, —, Ms, Watson, Mahmoud Issa, Kerem, Lloyd J, Austin III, Patrick Kingsley Organizations: Israel, National Security Council, United, Defense, Pentagon, International Court of Justice Locations: Gaza, Ashdod, Israel, United Nations, “, Jabaliya, Kerem Shalom, Rafah, The Hague

Although the heaviest snow has ended, several more inches of snow are expected across large swaths of Maine and New Hampshire, according to the National Weather Service. “Low pressure in the Gulf of Maine will continue to bring accumulating snow through this evening along with gusty northeast winds,” the National Weather Service said. “Winds will also remain gusty and may result in additional downed branches and limbs due to the weight of freshly fallen snow,” the weather service added. Winter storm warnings and advisories have been extended for parts of New England through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. “Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the weather service notes.

Persons: nor’easter, Janet Mills, “, Thursday’s, ”, Ed Warren, “ Frost Organizations: CNN, ”, National Weather Service, Westbrook School Department, Gorham School, WMUR, East, East Kingston Fire Department, Southern and, Storm Prediction, Colorado ., Storm Prediction Center Locations: Maine, New Hampshire, ” Maine, New England, Moretown , Vermont, Shapleigh , Maine, Gulf, Gulf of Maine, York County, State, Gorham, East Kingston , New Hampshire, East Kingston, East Coast, Vermont, New York, Central Plains , Ohio, Central Plains, Ohio, Missouri, Jefferson City , Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas, Arkansas, Springfield, Branson, Indiana, Kentucky, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Southern, Central, Southern and Central High Plains, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Colorado . Cities, Denver, Amarillo, Roswell

☆ Israeli cabinet approves reopening northern Gaza border crossing for first time since October 7, says official
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israel’s security cabinet has approved the reopening of Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks, an Israeli official told CNN Thursday. The Israeli official said the crossing would be opened to allow more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The cabinet also approved using the Israeli Port of Ashdod to help transfer more aid to Gaza. The announcement comes amid mounting international fury over Israeli strikes that killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in Gaza. Land crossings into Gaza, through which the bulk of vital aid has traditionally entered the territory, remain heavily restricted by Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kerem Shalom, Yoav Gallant Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Gaza Ministry of Health, United, Israel, Aid Locations: Erez, Israel, Gaza, Ashdod, United Nations, Egypt, Rafah, Kerem Shalom

☆ Nor’easter to Bring Springtime Snow to New England This Week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Christine Hauser | More About Christine Hauser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A nor’easter is forecast to bring an April onslaught of snow, rain, high winds and coastal flooding to the Northeastern United States this week, the National Weather Service said. Rain will lash areas of New York, Southern Connecticut and Northern New Jersey starting on Tuesday. Heavy, wet snow is expected to blanket mainly parts of inland New England starting on Wednesday before tapering off into a light dusting on Friday, the weather prediction center said. “The biggest impact we are worried about from this storm is the heavy, wet nature of the snowfall” in northern New England, said Donald Dumont, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine. “All of New England is going to get it, but probably more rain in southern New England.”Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey could all, to varying degrees, feel the brunt of the stormy weather.

Persons: “, Donald Dumont Organizations: Northeastern, National Weather Service Locations: Northeastern United States, New York, Southern Connecticut, Northern New Jersey, New England, Gray , Maine, England, ” Maine, New Hampshire , Connecticut , Vermont , Massachusetts, New Jersey

☆ Ancient DNA reveals what famed Chinese Emperor Wu may have looked like
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Ancient DNA recovered from the remains of a sixth century Chinese emperor who ruled during the country’s dark ages has shed some light on what the leader may have looked like. Emperor Wu ruled China as part of the Northern Zhou dynasty from 560 to 580 and is credited with unifying the northern part of ancient China during a particularly chaotic period. “Our analysis shows Emperor Wu had typical East or Northeast Asian facial characteristics.”The authors said they hoped ancient DNA might shed light on Wu’s cause of death. The genetic analysis showed that Emperor Wu intermarried with ethnically Han Chinese, China’s dominant ethnic group today. “It’s interesting to see the genetic study, but none of the findings of this genetic study are surprising at all,” Miller said.

Persons: Emperor Wu, Wu, ”, Shaoqing Wen, Tobias Houlton, University of Dundee , Houlton, Jeong Hoongwon, Jeong, ” Jeong, Franks, Bryan Miller, Miller, wasn’t, ” Miller, “ Organizations: CNN, Fudan University, University of Dundee, Seoul National University’s School of Biological Sciences, Han, Central, University of Michigan Locations: China, Mongolia, Shanghai, Seoul, North

☆ U.K. to Accuse China of Cyberattacks Targeting Voter Data and Lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Mark Landler | Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The British government is expected to publicly link China to cyberattacks that compromised the voting records of tens of millions of people, another notable hardening of Britain’s stance toward China since its leaders heralded a “golden era” in British-Chinese relations nearly a decade ago. The deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, will make a statement about the matter in Parliament on Monday afternoon, and is expected to announce sanctions against state-affiliated individuals and entities implicated in the attacks. The government disclosed the attack on the Electoral Commission last year but did not identify those behind it. It is believed to have begun in 2021 and lasted several months, with the personal details of 40 million voters being hacked. The Electoral Commission, which oversees elections in the United Kingdom, said that the names and addresses of anyone registered to vote in Britain and Northern Ireland between 2014 and 2022 had been accessed, as well as those of overseas voters.

Persons: Oliver Dowden Organizations: Electoral Commission Locations: China, United Kingdom, Britain, Northern Ireland

☆ Storm Brings Heavy Snow to Northern New York and Vermont
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Rebecca Carballo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A storm system on Saturday brought heavy rain to the Northeast and heavy snow to parts of New England and Northern New York, leaving more than 300,000 households in several states without electricity. More than 194,000 electricity customers in Maine, more than 71,000 customers in New Hampshire and more than 78,000 in New York State had lost power as of early Sunday morning, according to PowerOutage.us, a website that tracks power failures. In New York City, the heavy rain and snow cleared overnight, according to the National Weather Service. But a flood advisory for parts of New Jersey and New York City was in effect until 5 a.m.A flood warning had also been issued for Warren County, N.J., until 8:30 a.m. Such a warning, a higher level than an advisory, means that flooding is imminent or occurring.

Organizations: New York State, National Weather Service Locations: New England, Northern New York, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New York City, New Jersey, Warren County, N.J

GAZA StripWhy Isn’t More Aid Getting to Gazans? From El Arish, the trucks carrying aid typically undergo security checks in Rafah, Egypt, shortly before reaching the border with Gaza. One arrow points from near Rafah crossing to Kerem Shalom crossing, and a second arrow points from near Rafah crossing to Nitzana crossing. One arrow points from Nitzana crossing to Rafah crossing, and another points from Nitzana to Kerem Shalom crossing. More than a hundred Gazans died near a convoy on Feb. 29, after thousands massed around aid trucks.

Persons: Israel El Arish JORDAN Trucks, Balah Netivot Khan Younis Ofakim, Balah Khan, Salah Al Din, Rashid, Kerem, Khan Younis, Al Rashid, Israel, Trucks, Scott Anderson, Shimon Freedman, COGAT, Freedman, Mr, Anderson, Gazans, ”, Naser Qadous, Balah, Khan Younis Ofakim, Carl Skau, Sarah Schiffling, Deir, Younis Ofakim, Deir al, Biden, it’s, Schiffling, Juliette Touma, ” Ms, Touma Organizations: United Nations, West Bank Ships, Bank, Israel El Arish Trucks, Jordan, El Arish Egypt Israel Nitzana, Arrows, UNRWA, Food, Food Program, Hanken School of Economics, Central Locations: GAZA, Gaza, Gaza’s, SyRIA, Port, Israel El Arish, Cairo Egypt Saudi Arabia, Bank GAZA, Jordan Egypt, Ashkelon Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, El Arish Egypt Israel, Egypt Rafah, Egypt Israel, Rafah Rafah, Kerem, Kerem Shalom, Sderot GAZA, Gaza City Sderot Al Rashid, El Arish, Port Sa’id, Jordan, From El Arish, Nitzana, Israel, United States, Anera, ”, Khan Younis Ofakim Israel Rafah, Shalom, U.S, Air, France, Finland, Gaza City, Cyprus, Sderot, Balah, Deir

Israel Defense Forces fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets Friday, after the military said it detected several rocket launches from southern Lebanon. "Following the strike on the military post, secondary explosions were identified, indicating that weapons were located inside the post," the IDF claimed. On its Telegram channel, Hezbollah confirmed that the group carried out artillery strikes on Israeli military sites Friday. A senior US official told CNN: "Washington is unaware of the reports of a March 15 deadline. It has also been updated with the details of a report about a possible March 15 deadline for Hezbollah.

Persons: CNN's Zeena Saifi, Becky Anderson Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Lebanese, CNN, Hamas Locations: Lebanon, Marwahin, Labbouneh, Israel, Washington, Gaza, Iran

☆ Why this snowy Japanese island is a food lover’s paradise
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Milly Chan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Hokkaido, Japan CNN —Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, is unlike anywhere else in the country. Chef Tomoyuki Takao in the kitchen of his eponymous Hokkaido restaurant. “I realized that the indigenous Ainu people were the most knowledgeable about the forest,” Takao says. It was the first Japanese wine ever served in the iconic restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, and is a firm favorite on Takao’s wine list. The ocean’s winter bountyVideo Ad Feedback Discover why these clams taste best in winter 06:25 - Source: CNNSeafood is an integral part of Hokkaido’s food culture.

Persons: Tomoyuki Takao, CNN “, “, ” Takao, Takao, ”, Sonoko Fukae, “ I’ve, Yu Uchida, Uchida, ” Uchida, Japow isn’t, Soga, Yoichi, Soga’s, ” Takahiko, Akio Kashiwamura, ” Kashiwamura, Kashiwamura, doesn’t, Akemi Yokoyama, Kazuki Akazawa, Akazawa, it’s Organizations: CNN, Japan CNN, Michelin, European, Ebetsu, ”, CNN Seafood Locations: Hokkaido, Japan, Sapporo, French, Honshu, Shikisai, Copenhagen, Takao, Burgundy, France, Okhotsk, ”, Notsuke, Tomakomai

☆ Starbucks is laying off thousands of workers in the Middle East in response to Gaza boycotts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Starbucks’ Middle East franchisee, Alshaya Group, is cutting thousands of jobs at its coffee shops because of a “challenging” work environment as the chain grapples with boycotts over the brand relating to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Kuwait-based Alshaya has owned rights to operate Starbucks in the Middle East for more than 25 years and operates around 1,300 locations across the region, employing about 11,000 people. Starbucks’ most recent earnings report missed expectations, partially because of weaker sales in the region. Starbucks isn’t alone: McDonald’s said last month that it’s experiencing “meaningful business impact” in the Middle East because of the war. Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, said its chains’ “sales were impacted by the conflict in the Middle East region with varying degrees of impact,” which dented same-store sales growth in several countries.

Persons: Alshaya, “, ”, McDonald’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, East, Alshaya, CNN, Reuters, Alshaya Group, Brands Locations: New York, Gaza, East, Northern Africa, Kuwait, Western

We used to go out on the weekends,” the displaced health worker told CNN. Palestinian siblings Ella Mohammed Hamouda (left) and Sila Mohammed Hamouda (right) ride a camel on a beach in northern Gaza, on October 6, 2023. Nearly five months into Israel’s offensive, Palestinian children in Gaza are living with violence, homelessness, starvation, and disruption to education. Several parents and carers told CNN they struggle to explain the war to children, who they say are psychologically terrorized by relentless bombardment. “I miss my room and my toys,” Ella told CNN in a voice message.

Persons: Mohammed Hamouda, Dina, “, Hamouda, Kareem, Ella, ”, Ella Mohammed Hamouda, Sila Mohammed Hamouda, ” Ella, ” Ella Hamouda, Amira, Mohamed, hasn’t, Waseem El, Helal, ” Ella Mohammed Hamouda, Yehia, Mohammed Abed, Hazem Saeed Al, couldn’t, Naizi, ” Hazem Saeed Al, Ayas, Al, –, Naizi Hamouda, Saeed Muhammad Al, – Siwar, Muhammad, ” Mohammed Hamouda, Aya, Saeed Al, Kahlot, “ bedwetting, ” Saeed Muhammad Al, ” Hamouda Organizations: CNN, World Bank, Ministry of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF, Getty Images Health, Israel Defense Forces, Gaza UNICEF, UNRWA, UN, Global, WFP Locations: Gaza, Beit Lahia, Rafah, Sila, Israel, Yehia, Deir al, AFP, Gaza City, Palestine, Ayas, Saba, —, Al

CNN —A small, curly-haired boy walks wearily through the chapel of St. Philip, in Gaza City, northern Gaza, as Israeli drones whir overhead. “There is nothing left here.”In recent weeks, the Israeli military ramped up aerial attacks on parts of central and northern Gaza. Several Palestinians told CNN there is no peace to be found among the rubble. Israeli attacks on Gaza have since killed at least 29,313 Palestinians and injured another 69,333 people, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. “We saw stuff that no one has ever seen, and no one can even imagine,” Salah Abu Issa, a doctor who volunteers at the chapel, told CNN.

Persons: Philip, Mohammed Taysser Sadallah, ”, “, Abu Mohammed Al, ” Abu Mohammed Al, Zarik, Al, ” Israel, ‘, Salah Abu Issa, Philip's, Mustafa Hassona, CNN “, Omar Qattaa, Abu Issa, Philip . “, ” Ahmed, Salah Eddin, Abu Tareq, Khattab, Ashraf Amra, “ Ibrahim, Ibrahim Organizations: CNN, Ministry of Health, Getty, Aid, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Al, Amal, ”, Hamas, IDF, Shifa, . Pictures, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Zaytoun, Rafah, Israel, St, Anadolu, Palestine, Al, Deir al, Aqsa

☆ ‘Vittrup Man’ was a Stone Age migrant before his violent death
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

What the team discovered while piecing together Vittrup Man’s life is shedding light on the movements and connections between different Stone Age cultures. Vittrup Man was likely born and grew up along the coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, perhaps within the frigid climes of Norway or Sweden. Studying Vittrup Man has helped researchers gain insights about the genetics, lifestyles and ritual practices that can be traced to Stone Age societies, Sjögren said. A cartoon included with the new research depicts how Vittrup Man was possibly sacrificed in a swamp. But it’s also possible that Vittrup Man was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Persons: “, ”, Anders Fischer, piecing, Vittrup, Karl, Göran Sjögren, Lasse Sørensen, ” Sørensen, Sjögren, ” Fischer, Fischer, Niels Bach, Kristian Kristiansen, it’s, Roy van Beek, Van Beek, ” van Beek Organizations: CNN, Stone, University of Gothenburg, National Museum, Wageningen University & Research Locations: Denmark, Northern Europe, Vittrup, Sweden, Sealand, Norway, Scandinavia, subsisting, Copenhagen, Europe, Netherlands

☆ As the Year of the Dragon begins, the pros name sectors — and stocks — to play the Chinese market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Chinese stocks had an eventful week last week — with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index hitting a five-year low of about 2,650 points on Feb. 5, before edging up to end the week at 2,865.90. A slide in Hong Kong-listed Chinese shares on Feb. 9, however, proved that investors may still have lingering concerns on the prospects of Chinese stocks in the new year. As the festive season gets underway, Redmond Wong, market strategist at investment firm Saxo, sees several opportunities to play the market. Boom in green transformation Beyond the traditional sectors, Saxo's Wong is watching an up-and-coming area in China: energy security and a green transformation. Data from the International Energy Agency shows that the Asian giant's clean-energy sectors contributed 11.4 trillion Chinese yuan ($1.6 trillion) to the Chinese economy in 2023, up 30% year-on-year.

Persons: Redmond Wong, Saxo, I'm, Wong, Saxo's Wong, Morningstar, Zijin Organizations: CNBC Pro, Monetary Fund, Technology, Shenzhen, Baidu, Sands, Tsingtao, Morningstar, Tsingtao Brewery, International Energy Agency, Companies, Zijin Mining Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong, China, Zhejiang, Sands China, Macao, Shandong

☆ Electricity demand from data centers, AI and crypto could double in 2 years. How to play it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The firm pointed to recent data from the International Energy Agency, which forecasted that electricity consumption from data centers, artificial intelligence and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026. "The latest IEA electricity forecasts paint an even more alarming outlook for data center consumption," analyst Hiral Patel wrote in a Monday note. Barclays said it is looking at three investment areas that are a key part of the trend: data center operators, data center suppliers and data center grid infrastructure builders. After successfully using lithium-ion batteries at a Dublin data center , Microsoft wants to expand grid-interactive battery storage in other areas. That includes nine data centers in Ireland, which is a data center hotspot in Europe that's also under increased risk given its soaring electricity consumption, Barclays said.

Persons: Hiral Patel, Morgan Stanley's, Europe that's, Stifel Nicolaus, Eaton Organizations: Barclays, International Energy Agency, CNBC, Microsoft, Electricity, Constellation, Digital Realty Trust, Digital, European Union, Blackstone, Digital Realty, Devices, AMD, Tech Locations: Japan, U.S, Dublin, Ireland, Europe, European, Frankfurt, Paris, Virginia

She lost her mother and brother when the building collapsed in the earthquake. Damage from the earthquake is still visible in Antakya, Hatay province. Scott McLean/CNNSearch for the missingLast year’s earthquake killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey, and thousands more in neighboring Syria. “If I can’t find his body, then I will be waiting for him my whole life.”Smoke billows from the scene of collapsed buildings on February 7, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. Smoke billows from the Iskenderun Port as rescue workers work at the scene of a collapsed building on February 7, 2023 in Iskenderun, Turkey.

Persons: Karabas, Sengul, Rukiye, Mehmet, “, ” Karabas, Scott McLean, Guray Ervin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ismail Demir, ”, Sema Gulec, DEMAK, Gulec, Weeks, Batuhan, –, can’t, Burak Kara, Nur, She’s, Khaled Kassar, Kassar, Anwar, Jamal, ” Kassar, Mustafa Kara Ali, Erdogan, Yasin Akgul, Ekrem Imamoglu, Imamoglu, “ Banks Organizations: Southern, Southern Turkey CNN —, CNN, Hatay, Gulec’s, Interior Ministry, CHP, Getty, Development Party Locations: Southern Turkey, Turkey, Syria, Gaziantep province, Islahiye, Antakya, Hatay province, Iskenderun, Hatay, morgues, Syrian, Homs, Gaziantep, Turkish, AFP, Turkey’s, Istanbul, Istanbul’s, Kocaeli

☆ The UK's flagship aircraft carrier suffers new misfortune and won't lead major NATO exercise
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UK Royal Navy's fleet flagship had to withdraw from a major NATO exercise at the last minute. HMS Queen Elizabeth had issues with its starboard propeller shaft. In 2019, HMS Queen Elizabeth was left without propulsion for days and flooded. The ship had to anchor off Britannia Royal Naval College for 24 hours to undergo repairs, per The News. The House of Commons Defence Committee called the UK military "consistently overstretched" and under "unrelenting pressure," the Independent reports.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth, HMS Queen Elizabeth, —, Elizabeth, HMS, Wales, HMS Prince, Kalnins, Sir Richard Barrons Organizations: Royal, Service, NATO, Royal Navy, Business, Royal Navy's, Britannia Royal Naval College, Warfare Development Command, UK Defense, British, REUTERS, Bangor, Financial Times, Navy, Recruits, of Commons Defence Locations: NATO, Portsmouth, Europe, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Westminster, Riga, Latvia, Bahrain, Bangor

☆ Greece Promises Extra Aid for Grieving Farmers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament that the measure would cost the state 82 million euros ($89.31 million) in 2024 and announced more steps to appease the protesters. Farmers have been setting up blockades in central and northern Greece, echoing grievances from farmers across Europe, who have staged hundreds of tractors blockades in France and Brussels where EU leaders met on Thursday. A group of them lined up their tractors in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Thursday, surrounding the Agrotica trade fair venue. PPC, Greece's biggest power utility, will also offer an extra 10% rebate on electricity for farmers from May to September, Mitsotakis, who met protesting farmers in central Greece this week, said. Mitsotakis said that the state will spend in total 3.3 billion euros over the coming years to repair damage in Thessaly.

Persons: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Lefteris Papadimas, Angeliki Koutantou, Renee Maltezou, William Maclean Organizations: Farmers, EU Locations: ATHENS, Greece, Europe, France, Brussels, Thessaloniki, Thessaly

☆ Hamas Unlikely to Reject Ceasefire but Will Demand Israeli Withdrawal -Source
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to pull troops out until "total victory", which he defines as eradicating Hamas. Hamas says it will not sign up to any temporary truce unless Israel commits to a withdrawal and permanent end to the war. "They haven’t entered deep into Al-Mawasi where we live but everyday they get closer," he told Reuters by phone, referring to the western district of Khan Younis along the Mediterranean Coast. Israel, which claims Hamas is using hospitals as command centres, has denied prior Red Crescent claims that it stormed the hospital. Palestinian health officials said medical teams had recovered 14 bodies of Palestinians who were killed near the centre of Khan Younis after some tanks retreated from there.

Persons: Nidal, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, Khan Younis, Osama Ahmed, Amal, Israel's, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Sharon Singleton, Peter Graff Organizations: Hamas, Palestinian, Health, Reuters, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Al, Crescent, U.S . Navy, U.S . military's, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Paris, Cairo, Khan, Rafah, Gaza City, Al, Iran, Yemen, Red, Britain, Washington, U.S, Gulf, Aden, Mughrabi, Doha, Tala, Dubai, Jerusalem

Nicola Sturgeon told the United Kingdom's public inquiry into the pandemic that she didn't use informal messaging such as WhatsApp to make decisions. Although Scotland is part of the U.K., its government has powers over matters relating to public health. Sturgeon's standing has been further dented by the recent revelation that her WhatsApp messages had been deleted, which has led to questions about her trustworthiness or whether she has anything to hide. Last week, Sturgeon's successor as first minister, Humza Yousaf, offered an “unreserved” apology for the Scottish government’s “frankly poor” handling of requests for WhatsApp messages. Johnson agreed in late 2021 to hold a public inquiry after heavy pressure from bereaved families, who have hit out at the evidence emerging about his actions.

Persons: —, policymaking, Nicola Sturgeon, ”, Sturgeon, Boris Johnson, hadn't, hasn't, WhatsApp, “, Humza Yousaf, Heather Hallett, Johnson Organizations: United, Scotland, Scottish National Party, Scottish Locations: Scotland, Edinburgh, England, Wales, Northern Ireland

☆ How Wolves Became a Pawn in the Culture Wars - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Erica Berry | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For generations, America waged a war against the wolf; now with the animals repopulating the Mountain West, the wolf war has taken on a new shape: pitting neighbors against neighbors as they fight over how to manage wolves. It’s a lesson in how even in extremely polarized times, it’s possible to make heated issues less divisive. The predominant narrative of the Big Bad Wolf, which has its roots in biblical stories and Northern European fairy tales, arrived with colonization of America. Government-funded extermination programs incentivized the killing of wolves, largely as a project of “civilizing” the wilderness, an offshoot of Manifest Destiny. By the mid-20th century, wolves in the contiguous United States had been shot, poisoned and trapped almost to extinction, with just a few stragglers in the Upper Midwest.

Persons: civilizing Organizations: America, Rockies, Government Locations: Colorado, America, United States, Upper Midwest

Search resuls for: "and Northern"

25 mentions found